page_title: Battle of P'ohang-dong
section_title: Prelude
hierarchical_section_title: Battle of P'ohang-dong / Prelude
caption_attribution_description: The U.S. aircraft carrier USS Philippine Sea (CVA-47) at sea off Korea on 3 May 1953. Philippine Sea, with assigned Carrier Air Group 9 (CVG-9) was deployed to the Western Pacific and the Korean War from 15 December 1952 to 14 August 1953. Many planes of CVG-9 are vieible on deck: 14 Grumman F9F-2 Panther of Fighter Squadrons 91 (VF-91) and VF-93, six Douglas AD-4/-4NA/-4NL Skyraiders Attack Squadron 95 (VA-95), eleven Vought F4U-4 of VF-94, three AD-4W of Composite Squadron 11 (VC-11) Det. M (one on the starboard bow, two in front and to the right of the lowered deck elevator), and a AD-4N of VC-35 Det. M (aft of the elevator). Note the work going on on the crash barrier.
context_page_description: The Battle of P'ohang-dong was an engagement between the United Nations Command and North Korean forces early in the Korean War, with fighting continuing from 5–20 August 1950 around the town of P'ohang-dong, South Korea. It was a part of the Battle of Pusan Perimeter, and was one of several large engagements fought simultaneously. The battle ended in a victory for the UN after their forces were able to drive off an attempted offensive by three North Korean Korean People's Army divisions in the mountainous eastern coast of the country.
  Forces of the South Korean Republic of Korea Army, supported by the United States Navy and United States Air Force, defended the eastern coast of the country as a part of the Pusan Perimeter. When several divisions of the KPA crossed through mountainous terrain to push the UN forces back, a complicated battle ensued in the rugged terrain around P'ohang-dong, which contained the vital supply line to the main UN force at Taegu.
  For two weeks KPA and ROK units fought in several bloody back-and-forth battles, taking and retaking ground in which neither side was able to gain the upper hand.
context_section_description: The ROK—a force of 58,000— was organized into two corps and five divisions along the line; from east to west, I Corps controlled the 8th Infantry Division and Capital Divisions, while the II Corps controlled the 1st Division and 6th Infantry Division. A reconstituted ROK 3rd Division was placed under direct ROK control. Morale among the UN units was low due to the large number of defeats at that point in the war. The ROK had lost an estimated 70,000 men up to that point.
  At the same time forces of the US 5th Air Force supplied 45 P-51 Mustang fighters to provide cover from Yonil Airfield, and the US Navy had several ships providing support by sea. Evacuation of wounded and surrounded troops was carried out by the aircraft carriers USS Valley Forge and Philippine Sea. The heavy cruisers USS Helena and Toledo also provided fire support for troops operating in the town.
  The KPA troops were organized into a mechanized combined arms force of ten divisions, originally numbering some 90,000 well-trained and well-equipped men, in July, with hundreds of T-34 tanks. However, defensive actions by UN forces had delayed the KPA significantly in their invasion of South Korea, costing them 58,000 casualties and the destruction of a large number of tanks. In order to recoup these losses, the North Koreans had to rely on less experienced replacements and conscripts, many of whom had been taken from the conquered regions of South Korea.
  The KPA forces suffered from a shortage of men and equipment; their divisions were far understrength. Opposing the ROK, from west to east, were the 8th, 12th, and 5th Divisions and the 766th Independent Infantry Regiment. On 5 August the 8th Division was estimated to have 8,000 men, the 5th Division had 6,000, the 12th Division had 6,000 and the 766th Independent Regiment had 1,500, giving these units a total strength of at least 21,500.
caption: The aircraft carrier USS Philippine Sea during the Korean War.
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